Giro d’Italia 2014: Stage six preview

Stage six sees the race head northwards into central Italy, in a lengthy route that seems designed to move the race closer to the decisive mountains up north. In fact, this is the second longest stage of this year’s race, though the riders will be grateful that most of it is flat.

The only climb of the day is at the finish line in Montecassino, a nine-kilometre effort that, like yesterday’s finale, is not steep enough to cause serious gaps. The hill-free run-in will make it difficult for breaks to succeed and virtually ensures that the stage will be decided on the final ascent, which will likely see the same riders who contested yesterday come to the fore once more.

There are still likely to be a cluster of riders hovering close behind the pink jersey on GC, and whoever is leading will find it difficult to control attacks on the final climb.

Atop the Montecassino is a monastery which was reconsecrated in 1964, having been destroyed by Allied forces in World War Two. The riders will likely be too exhausted to enjoy the surroundings, but such an exotic finish ought to make for quite a spectacle for the fans.

Did you know?
The Giro passes through the city of Salerno today, where the legendary Fausto Coppi won his first of three stages in the 1949 Giro d’Italia, which he went on to win overall. Later that year, he also won the Tour de France, becoming the first ever rider to complete the Giro-Tour double in the same year.